easy fix for worn hatch struts

[beavis0076]

Hey,

if you have worn struts for your hatch and they no longer hold it up there is an easy fix rather than buying new ones.

I just bend them the slightest bit and they will once agian hold up your hatch. I have done it on many cars and it works great.

[GrimGreg]

Bend them how? Toward the hatch or away from, or to the center?

 

I still just use a stick, lol.

[OldSlowReliable]

When i bought mine, the previous owners didn't tell us that they didn't support the weight of it....

 

We ordered some from autozone, of which the ones for the glass didn't work, and so we have a working hatch, but not the glass part, it only stays up if your lucky and you get it all the way (still, id love to hear how this works!)

[RedPath88]

FWI, the struts can be found for less than $14usd on www.rockauto.com

[Indigent]

The best way to accomplish what beavis is saying is to open the glass to its maximum and basically put a small dent or bend in the cylinder towards the top. You could pinch it with some pliers. The result is that the rod in the cylinder will have a harder time travelling at the point where you bent it, putting more friction, thus being able to hole more weight. If you dent or bend it too much, you wont be able to open the glass all the way, so just a little bit will help a bunch.

 

Great suggestion!

Edited February 22, 2009 by Indigent

[MY1PATH]

I got tired of replacing mine every several years so I loaded one side up with a spring. Now it always opens on its own, stays open @ full and the stuts just act like a dampener to slow the srping down.

[Kingman]

Vice grips

[beavis0076]

The best way to accomplish what beavis is saying is to open the glass to its maximum and basically put a small dent or bend in the cylinder towards the top. You could pinch it with some pliers. The result is that the rod in the cylinder will have a harder time travelling at the point where you bent it, putting more friction, thus being able to hole more weight. If you dent or bend it too much, you wont be able to open the glass all the way, so just a little bit will help a bunch.

 

Great suggestion!

 

Correct! also if you just open the hatch and push on the to bend them out the slightest bit, that will work too. Better than spending the $ to buy new ones and my hatch stays up perfectly now. I did the same thing to my old CRX.

[GrimGreg]

One way to keep the hatch up is to:

 

Open glass, then open the hatch. The glass will counter weight the hatch and keep it open.

[88pathoffroad]

I've found that a doubled-up zip tie around the chrome shaft works OK unless the strut is completely dead. When you shut the hatch the ziptie slides up the shaft, then when you open the hatch just slide the ziptie back the other way to the cylinder. The small amount of friction presented by the zip tie on the shaft helps weak struts stay up.

[Kingman]

I tell ya, vice grips keep the door up nicely. Just clip the on to the rod and you're all set.

 

Just don't bump them and undo them when under it, that usually doesn't do the head too well...

[adamzan]

All mine still work

[Pezzy]

Another fix, you can steal a set off of mister "ALL MINE WORK".

[k9sar]

I have a few spare ones from junkyard runs. I always check the glass and hatch struts whent he get a new WD21 in. If they are good, I grab them.

[95shakinPF]

Just don't bump them and undo them when under it, that usually doesn't do the head too well...

TRUST ME I KNOW THIS ALL TOO WELL!!!! Had me walking around like a 95 yr old man for days!

No, I wont do that anymore!

That hatch is HEAVY!!!

I now use the stick method!!

Edited February 24, 2009 by 95shakinPF

[InfamousDuckMan]

Or there's this...

Clicky

 

Convenient particularly for me, the bloke that does them lives just 5 minutes from me!

 

--DuckMan.

[Tosh]

TRUST ME I KNOW THIS ALL TOO WELL!!!! Had me walking around like a 95 yr old man for days!

No, I wont do that anymore!

That hatch is HEAVY!!!

I now use the stick method!!

i use the rod that came with the jack.haha

[BowTied]

I got tired of replacing mine every several years so I loaded one side up with a spring. Now it always opens on its own, stays open @ full and the stuts just act like a dampener to slow the srping down.

 

 

Brilliant! This to me is a very efficient way to accomlish this.

Please post a pic or specs on the spring. Thanks.

[GrimGreg]

Brilliant! This to me is a very efficient way to accomlish this.

Please post a pic or specs on the spring. Thanks.

X2

[Kingman]

X3

[flnl]

I just want to know how to take the window lift off, I have a pair waiting to replace the old ones, but when I turn the nut on the window the other flat side turns also and there's no point I can hold it. Does that flat trim piece on the outside of the window pop off?